Study of information visualization, which visually expresses the result of information analysis in an easy way, is utilized in a wide variety of areas because of its usefulness in identifying and delivering information. In particular, it is applied to ...
Study of information visualization, which visually expresses the result of information analysis in an easy way, is utilized in a wide variety of areas because of its usefulness in identifying and delivering information. In particular, it is applied to pending social issues like safety and disaster.
However, in the area of information visualization where information can be seen at a glance, sensitive information such as sex crime must be handled very carefully. For instance, if information is only visualized and provided based upon clarity and accuracy to increase safety for people in a region where sex crime occurs frequently, real estate prices can drop or residents may complain about it. It can also lead to secondary social issues related to unprotected privacy of individuals.
Accordingly, this study attempted convergence of information visualization with interactive art to provide information to people while protecting sensitive information. A method of visualizing information through stepwise visualization of interactive art and use of aesthetic elements of art was studied.
First, cognitive and formative study was carried out for information visualization. Looking at an object is not simply an action of eyes but a brain work that interprets visual and perceptual stimulus. Using this idea, visual expression methods and visual design expression methods were studied to better understand crime information of regions where crimes occur frequently based on cognitive characteristics of human beings.
Second, interaction characteristics of interactive art were examined.
This involved stepwise exposure of information to users according to demand, instead of showing visual information at once. Interaction characteristics were compared between general interactive contents and interactive art, trying to find a method of using this for information visualization while protecting sensitive information.
Third, a visualization method was studied in the form of interactive art.
A visual expression method appropriate for properties of interactive art was studied.
An embodiment technique was studied to perform visualization through programming.
A visualization method appropriate for interaction of the audience (or the user) was studied through flocking of birds and fishes. Flocking was interpreted by the principle of visual art design. Movement of voids, position of the leader void, and encounter with target point and obstacles were connected to interaction through user clicking (mouse). Flocking is a regular collective behavior that creates coherent visuals like ‘unity’, ‘diversity’ and ‘rhythm’ on the screen, and it was analyzed to include the principle of visual design and verified through visualization.
Fourth, emphasis of interactive art as public art was studied.
There are diverse definitions of publicness in public art, and the emphasis is changing with time. However, understanding of publicness is primarily related to classification between what is private and what is public. Public art is done by a subject that is not an individual and has public authorities for the purpose of public interest. Therefore, public financing often occurs and imposes certain responsibility in this domain.
The concept of publicness in “New Genre Public Art” places greater importance on participation of the audience than the ‘site or place’ where a work is installed. Audience-oriented social issues and communities become important.
Fifth, a method of information visualization with interactive art that reflects sensitive information was studied.
This ‘information visualization’ applied sensitive information (virtual data) to actual interactive art.
Movements and figures of the audience were projected on the image in the form of real-time photo mosaic. The image on the camera was divided into small tiles and mapped with visual patterns of crime type. Also, application of audience-immersive interaction was studied instead of purposeful or explanatory interaction.
It is comprised of three levels using NFC (Near Field Communication), progressing from ‘art’ to ‘intermediate level between art and information visualization’, and then to ‘information visualization’.
The audience (the user) can receive crime information about a region passing by in the form of information visualization after entering personal information twice.